On December 19, following a spirited discussion, the Del Mar City Council adopted a resolution brought forward by Councilmember Dwight Worden, reaffirming Del Mar’s commitment to basic constitutional and individual rights. The resolution was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Terry Sinnott opposed.

Councilmember Worden expressed that many Americans—including local residents—felt extremely uneasy and fearful about promises and characterizations made by President-Elect Trump in regards to immigrant deportations, race and gender, and climate change policies. As a result, he urged the City to take a stand on principle to ensure residents that Del Mar would not participate in discriminatory practices such as compiling a listing or registry of Muslims and identification or round-ups of undocumented persons. The resolution also reaffirmed Del Mar’s commitment to supporting and encouraging diversity and addressing climate change and sea level rise, based on the best available science, not ideology or partisanship.

“I did my best to word the resolution to be clear but non-inflammatory,” said Worden. “We are in unprecedented times in terms of where the incoming presidential administration will take our country. Many of our citizens agree that it is important for Del Mar to take a stand.”

While Councilmember David Druker supported the resolution, and thought that the majority of residents were likely to be supportive of it given the fact that about 70% of Del Mar voters did not vote for Donald Trump, he expressed concerns about the City Council inserting itself in “national politics.” Mayor Terry Sinnott, who voted against the resolution, characterized the measure as a highly partisan response to the outcome of the presidential election, and argued that the citizens of Del Mar were not “snowflakes,” who needed to be reassured and comforted by the City, which he described as “more of a homeowner’s association than a city,” and implied that residents don’t look to the Council for leadership and guidance on national policy matters. Councilmembers Sherryl Parks and Ellie Haviland both supported the resolution. Haviland called the resolution an important step in a time of great uncertainty, and more an expression of Del Mar’s values and commitments as a community than an act of partisanship.